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Scott Pruitt’s EPA: A dark day for America

Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Scott Pruitt as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

This is a big victory for polluters, and a huge loss for America and our Bay.

The danger Scott Pruitt poses to San Francisco Bay is very real. The EPA has a central role in protecting the Bay, particularly by enforcing the Clean Water Act. For years, Pruitt has been a fierce opponent of that law—along with many other critical environmental protections. As Oklahoma attorney general, Pruitt attacked the EPA’s cleanup of Chesapeake Bay—a case that’s directly relevant to future of San Francisco Bay.

So much of the progress we have achieved is under threat all over again. Restorable wetlands we’ve fought successfully to protect—like the Cargill Salt Ponds in Redwood City—are newly vulnerable.

The scary truth is, as long as Scott Pruitt leads the EPA, we cannot count on our federal government to protect the Bay. In this new era, environmental progress and protection will be fought and won locally. That’s why Save The Bay’s effective work with Bay cities and state agencies is more important than ever. To beat Pruitt and the anti-environment Congress, we need more resources to block wetlands destruction, create critical habitat for fish and wildlife, and reduce trash and toxic pollution from cities.

We are ready to fight—here’s what we’re doing:

Pushing back fiercely against every effort to undermine environmental protections

Rallying local communities as grassroots activists and environmental volunteers to protect and restore our Bay

It’s a dark time for environmental protection in America, but we’ve been here before and persevered. We’ve been mobilizing grassroots victories since 1961—before the EPA, before the Clean Water Act … before “environmentalist” was even a word. Today, our work is more essential than ever, and we won’t shy away from the fight.

Are you looking for a way to resist the Trump Administration’s assault on the environment? We need your support.

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Cyril Manning

Cyril Manning is Save The Bay’s communications director. In addition to driving public engagement in Save The Bay’s protection and restoration efforts, he can often be found running and riding the Bay Area's fabulous trails.

I’m glad Scott Pruitt is heading up the epa, mostly because he needs to revoke the waiver granted to Calif air resources board. They’ve ran to many business’ out of California due to over regulation, and their bad science in regards to diesel emissions. As well calif is one of the least business friendly states to operate in. I’m all for a clean environment, but calif arb is way off base.

My husband and I are devastated by what is currently happening in our national government. We will continue to support STB and other environmental organizations to protect our wild lands, our national parks and refuges and San Francisco Bay!